I guess you're complaining that the first chart shows a used game purchased at the end of the sequence, but the second chart doesn't. If the second chart also ended with a purchase of a used game then the charts would be more similar. Also, the consumer would still be left with $20.
...but this is marketing so...
I don't see GameStop as taking a risk by giving you $20 store credit, as someone on this thread suggested, they're just ripping you off because, iirc, you can't get the same in cash, so your only choice is to buy from them.
No I am complaining that Dawdle is creating money out of thin air. Somebody must be buying those used games for 40$, and they don't show up in the equation.
As for ripping off, who is forcing you to buy at GameStop? I don't get it (I am not associated with GameStop and I don't know them either).
Right, and if the person in the second chart had finished by buying a used game they would be part of this equation. The difference being that they would be net up $15 and an extra game to play. To me it is clearly implied that there are used games being bought by other users of Dawdle.
As for GameStop being a rip off, I realize I have a choice and I never trade games to them because I feel the prices aren't fair. I prefer to keep my games and I don't play as much anymore anyway. I don't mean that Game Stop are unethical crooks, just that I believe they don't present a good value to me or my friends.
It seems to me to add up, in the second chart a used game would have to be bought twice, because there are two infusions of 40$ through "selling a used game on Dwadle".
Naturally, if you manage to sell your games for a better price, you are left with more money to spend. I don't see anything inherently interesting in that, just two stores with different margins and different kinds of services. Why is one considered bad and the other isn't?
I've heard negative reactions from game developers before and think they should pay more for popular used games, so I'm not surprised by this. On the Dawdle blog there is this post which links to a Penny Arcade comic which shows this seems to be an on-going thing.
http://blog.dawdle.com/2009/03/why-penny-arcade-is-wrong-abo...
I found this post from Dave Perry which I think sums up why the developer feel slighted by Game Stop. I sympathise with them. If Perry is right they'll begin pushing things like Steam and sharing profits directly with MS and Sony for downloads. I prefer hard copies though.
I must admit that I don't understand the issue. Why is it OK if users sell games, but not OK if shops sell used games (as dperry writes). I don't get it.
I can only tell it from my perspective, that is, why I am wary of Gamestop whenever I hear a developer complain. There are two reasons.
1. As I said. I feel Gamestop should make a better offer for poplular used games that they resell, or sell them for less than they do. I have seen very popular games go for a measly $5 less. But, of course I can't do anything more than choose not to trade with them.
2. I feel a certain loyalty to developer that make games that I like. I want them to make as much of the money I spend as possible. The same as I want my favorite music artist to make as much money as possible and only want there lable to make what is absolutely necessary. The team creating the game is where everything of value comes from and if GameStop is, as Perry suggests, doing everything they can to keep used games being sold at a higher rate than new games while the developers "pay to put standees and posters everywhere" then I reason they are damaging the bottom line for the developers.
If I haven't been able to express my point of view adequately in this post then I need more practice writing and it is probably to subtle an issue to matter. Competition and technology will eventually sort things out.
...but this is marketing so...
I don't see GameStop as taking a risk by giving you $20 store credit, as someone on this thread suggested, they're just ripping you off because, iirc, you can't get the same in cash, so your only choice is to buy from them.